Is this cheap DRSSTC driver from Aliexpress the 1.3b type?

[HVTC]

First up, I am newbie when it comes to this forum so I am sure I did something wrong.

Basically, I came across this DRSSTC driverhttps://bit.ly/2QA5EYZ but I am not sure what type it is (or if it is any good) and I really don't want to buy in the dark.  This is the only driver I found with a fiber optic interrupter on AE.

[Mads Barnkob]

It certainly is not a 1.3b as that only had one pair of output MOSFETs to the GDT.

It looks much more like a enhanced 2.1, maybe a copy of those 2.7/.8 from loneoceans etc.

With pulse-skipping functionality implemented on a Altera Max II FPGA, it is a very different driver board and also much more advanced if something does not work correctly.

UD1.3 and 2.1 are simple master pieces due to their simple construction and low complexity part number.

[HVTC]

It certainly is not a 1.3b as that only had one pair of output MOSFETs to the GDT.

It looks much more like a enhanced 2.1, maybe a copy of those 2.7/.8 from loneoceans etc.

With pulse-skipping functionality implemented on a Altera Max II FPGA, it is a very different driver board and also much more advanced if something does not work correctly.

UD1.3 and 2.1 are simple master pieces due to their simple construction and low complexity part number.

Thanks for replying! I have another question: https://bit.ly/2Oz5xuw i believe this driver was identified as the 1.3b type in another post but I am not 100% sure. Also, is there a way I can get/make a fiber optic controller for cheap?

[Mads Barnkob]

Thanks for replying! I have another question: https://bit.ly/2Oz5xuw i believe this driver was identified as the 1.3b type in another post but I am not 100% sure. Also, is there a way I can get/make a fiber optic controller for cheap?

That looks like a UD1.3b with pulse-width limiting potentiometer.

You can build the relatively simple interrupter from Steve Ward: http://stevehv.4hv.org/drsstc_interrupter.htm

There is also a simple audio interrupter here from ctc-labs: http://kaizerpowerelectronics.dk/tesla-coils/musical-sstcdrsstc-interrupter/

Onetesla midi interupter has a fair price, but also some minor issues and not that user-friendly: http://onetesla.com/products/sd-card-interrupter-kit.html

[HVTC]

Thanks for replying! I have another question: https://bit.ly/2Oz5xuw i believe this driver was identified as the 1.3b type in another post but I am not 100% sure. Also, is there a way I can get/make a fiber optic controller for cheap?

That looks like a UD1.3b with pulse-width limiting potentiometer.

You can build the relatively simple interrupter from Steve Ward: http://stevehv.4hv.org/drsstc_interrupter.htm

There is also a simple audio interrupter here from ctc-labs: http://kaizerpowerelectronics.dk/tesla-coils/musical-sstcdrsstc-interrupter/

Onetesla midi interupter has a fair price, but also some minor issues and not that user-friendly: http://onetesla.com/products/sd-card-interrupter-kit.html

Is there a way to use fiber optic cable with the circuit from AE and steve ward's interrupter? I am thinking of using an RCA or coaxial cable instead of fiber optic. Also, If I am not mistaken, the 1.3b driver includes ZCS, right?

[Mads Barnkob]

With the AE 1.3 driver you can use a matching fiber transmitter diode connected to the steve ward interrupter, if there is issues with polarity of the signal, you can either omit or use an extra hex-schmitt gate that is most likely available on the board as all are not used.

UD1.3b tries to do ZCS switching from the feedback transformer, but it does not have phase-lead compensation as UD2.1 does. This is really only necessary if you plan to push a lot of current through bricks or pushing something else above its limits. F.ex. I never had problems in my DRSSTC1 with UD1.3b: http://kaizerpowerelectronics.dk/tesla-coils/kaizer-drsstc-i/

DO NOT use RCA or coaxial cable instead of fiber optic cable! You will only make problems for yourself in two areas. 1. noise injection into the interrupter and 2. you are no longer galvanic isolated from the mains powered inverter / high voltage side.

[HVTC]

With the AE 1.3 driver you can use a matching fiber transmitter diode connected to the steve ward interrupter, if there is issues with polarity of the signal, you can either omit or use an extra hex-schmitt gate that is most likely available on the board as all are not used.

UD1.3b tries to do ZCS switching from the feedback transformer, but it does not have phase-lead compensation as UD2.1 does. This is really only necessary if you plan to push a lot of current through bricks or pushing something else above its limits. F.ex. I never had problems in my DRSSTC1 with UD1.3b: http://kaizerpowerelectronics.dk/tesla-coils/kaizer-drsstc-i/

DO NOT use RCA or coaxial cable instead of fiber optic cable! You will only make problems for yourself in two areas. 1. noise injection into the interrupter and 2. you are no longer galvanic isolated from the mains powered inverter / high voltage side.

I found a matching fiber optic diode https://bit.ly/2SWaCAG but it seems kinda exotic, with no tutorials or info on how to use it. I couldn't find the appropriate fiber optic cable, too.  Any other options?

The reason I liked the driver in my OP was because it already comes with it's own fiber optic controller and that sort of jazz. Can I use that for my first DRSSTC?

On the IGBT side of things, is this Chinese one any good? https://bit.ly/2RJ0pGh My guess is probably not, but I am not sure why. What are the odds of it working fine? I am working from a limited budget, so I am stuck with Ali Express.

[oneKone]

Welcome to the forum @HVTC

in regards to your first driver you linked, from my experience they do perform the same as a 1.3b, although as mads has said they are not. As for the fibre link they all seem to be using the same standard, what i mean by that is they're all the same polarity (at least based on my experiences with them). I am using the oneTesla interrupter board (diy build) with a standard blue led as the transmitter.

I personally with if you're going for a premade board -especially from china.. you'd want something you can replace parts on easily. 

the two boards from them i'd recommend are (and have used):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Tesla-coil-drive-board-DRSSTC-drive-board-optical-interface/32808663591.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.22.35837040tD19C0&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10065_10068_10130_10547_319_10548_317_10696_5728811_453_10084_454_10083_10618_10307_537_536_10131_10132_10133_5733215_5733315_328_10059_10884_5731015_5733115_10887_100031_5733415_321_322_5730015_10103_5733515_5729015_5733615,searchweb201603_1,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=4a8fbc4c-9e76-4daf-8f8b-b95f8394dae9-3&algo_pvid=4a8fbc4c-9e76-4daf-8f8b-b95f8394dae9

   https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Tesla-coil-high-voltage-arc-arc-lightning-music-DRSSTC-music-cool-DIY-Kit/32821281841.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.203.35837040tD19C0&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10065_10068_10130_10547_319_10548_317_10696_5728811_453_10084_454_10083_10618_10307_537_536_10131_10132_10133_5733215_5733315_328_10059_10884_5731015_5733115_10887_100031_5733415_321_322_5730015_10103_5733515_5729015_5733615,searchweb201603_1,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=4a8fbc4c-9e76-4daf-8f8b-b95f8394dae9-31&algo_pvid=4a8fbc4c-9e76-4daf-8f8b-b95f8394dae9

Hopefully some of this helps in some way. In all honesty @Mads is a true master, hopefully he can see if there's something wrong with the boards i've linked.

[HVTC]

Welcome to the forum @HVTC

in regards to your first driver you linked, from my experience they do perform the same as a 1.3b, although as mads has said they are not. As for the fibre link they all seem to be using the same standard, what i mean by that is they're all the same polarity (at least based on my experiences with them). I am using the oneTesla interrupter board (diy build) with a standard blue led as the transmitter.

I personally with if you're going for a premade board -especially from china.. you'd want something you can replace parts on easily. 

the two boards from them i'd recommend are (and have used):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Tesla-coil-drive-board-DRSSTC-drive-board-optical-interface/32808663591.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.22.35837040tD19C0&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10065_10068_10130_10547_319_10548_317_10696_5728811_453_10084_454_10083_10618_10307_537_536_10131_10132_10133_5733215_5733315_328_10059_10884_5731015_5733115_10887_100031_5733415_321_322_5730015_10103_5733515_5729015_5733615,searchweb201603_1,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=4a8fbc4c-9e76-4daf-8f8b-b95f8394dae9-3&algo_pvid=4a8fbc4c-9e76-4daf-8f8b-b95f8394dae9

   https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Tesla-coil-high-voltage-arc-arc-lightning-music-DRSSTC-music-cool-DIY-Kit/32821281841.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.203.35837040tD19C0&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10065_10068_10130_10547_319_10548_317_10696_5728811_453_10084_454_10083_10618_10307_537_536_10131_10132_10133_5733215_5733315_328_10059_10884_5731015_5733115_10887_100031_5733415_321_322_5730015_10103_5733515_5729015_5733615,searchweb201603_1,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=4a8fbc4c-9e76-4daf-8f8b-b95f8394dae9-31&algo_pvid=4a8fbc4c-9e76-4daf-8f8b-b95f8394dae9

Hopefully some of this helps in some way. In all honesty @Mads is a true master, hopefully he can see if there's something wrong with the boards i've linked.

Thanks for linking those drivers- I am probably going with the second one just because it's a kit. But one issue remains though, and that is the fiber optic controller. Have you ever come across one on AliExpress? Maybe a DIY one from parts on AE? Thanks

[black.yang]

With the AE 1.3 driver you can use a matching fiber transmitter diode connected to the steve ward interrupter, if there is issues with polarity of the signal, you can either omit or use an extra hex-schmitt gate that is most likely available on the board as all are not used.

UD1.3b tries to do ZCS switching from the feedback transformer, but it does not have phase-lead compensation as UD2.1 does. This is really only necessary if you plan to push a lot of current through bricks or pushing something else above its limits. F.ex. I never had problems in my DRSSTC1 with UD1.3b: http://kaizerpowerelectronics.dk/tesla-coils/kaizer-drsstc-i/

DO NOT use RCA or coaxial cable instead of fiber optic cable! You will only make problems for yourself in two areas. 1. noise injection into the interrupter and 2. you are no longer galvanic isolated from the mains powered inverter / high voltage side.

I found a matching fiber optic diode https://bit.ly/2SWaCAG but it seems kinda exotic, with no tutorials or info on how to use it. I couldn't find the appropriate fiber optic cable, too.  Any other options?

The reason I liked the driver in my OP was because it already comes with it's own fiber optic controller and that sort of jazz. Can I use that for my first DRSSTC?

On the IGBT side of things, is this Chinese one any good? https://bit.ly/2RJ0pGh My guess is probably not, but I am not sure why. What are the odds of it working fine? I am working from a limited budget, so I am stuck with Ali Express.

In fact, it uses an audio fiber head.
Carrier-borne Manchester coding requiring a certain frequency
Decoding interrupt signal in CPLD Logic Description
It can be used safely.